Special Olympics full of winners

Published 6:00 pm, Wednesday, March 31, 2004

Approximately 300 participated in the Special Olympics at Oak Ridge High School on March 27.

By BURTON SPEAKMAN

Special Olympics is an event that allows kids who normally wouldn't be able to compete have a chance to stand in the winner's circle.

Approximately 300 participated in the Special Olympics at Oak Ridge High School on March 27.

"This is a very important part of their lives," said Robert Boscarino, one of the coaches for the Conroe Stars. A lot of kids look forward to this all year long.

"Specials Olympics does wonders for their confidence and self esteem," he said. "Everyone here is a winner and it makes them feel good to participate.

"This is an opportunity for them to come out here, compete, meet new friends and have a great experience," Boscarino said. "When they come out here, they put their heart and soul into it."

"These kids have hearts the size of Texas," he said.

Everyone gets into the lives of their own children and what they do, this is a chance for others to see what these children and their parents go through, said John Hennigan, one of the organizing volunteers.

"These kids get to compete in athletic events they don't normally get to," he said. "This has been great and not only for the kids."

Approximately 200 people volunteered to help.

"We had 20 people volunteer to time races yet we only had six or seven participants and 13 stayed just to cheer the runners on," Hennigan said. "The volunteers are second to none around here."

Tom Quinn, chair of the event for Kiwanis of The Woodlands — its primary sponsor — has been assisting in Special Olympics for 12 years. "This is an event that if you do it once you're hooked," Quinn said.

"It's gratifying to help these people," he said. "Some of them can barely walk but they come out here and do the best they can."

Special Olympics allows competitors to go out and do things in a positive way and feel good about their achievements, he said. The generosity of the community is one of the best things about the event, people and companies are willing to donate their time and money.

The first time that Boscarino came to a Special Olympics event, he was so moved that he cried. It was at a state event in North Texas and he was overcome looking at the hundreds of participants.